The Blue Stingrays' Mysterious Line-up Revealed After Nearly 25 Years with Release of "Grits & Eggs" from Surf-N-Burn Re-issue (Epitone Records)

Nearly 25 years after releasing their mysterious, heavily veiled debut full-length, Surf-N-Burn, The Blue Stingrays' members have finally been revealed. Surf-N-Burn's faux liner notes framed The Blue Stingrays as "a legendary instrumental band founded in the late 1950's whose sole album was lost for decades, due to the band members' desire for anonymity." Claiming they formed in 1959 and were among both the earliest and most influential Surf Rockers; who, after tiring of the exploitation of surf culture, moved to a small South Pacific island.


In all reality, The Blue Stingrays have now officially been revealed to consist of guitarist Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, The Dirty Knobs,) bassist Ron Blair (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers,) and drummer Randall Marsh (Mudcrutch.) Although, various materials from The Blue Stingrays' original "run" list Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench, III as their keyboardist, as well. Surf-N-Burn has rocked, rattled, and rolled since its original 1997 release on Epitone Records, a pseudo-sub-label of Epitaph.


Now, Epitone/Epitaph Records will effectively re-release this classic long out-of-print Surf Rock album on vinyl on September 24, 2021. Like those who roamed the globe in search of the "perfect" wave, The Blue Stingrays nailed the perfect sound when their first twang rang 'round the world on their now-legendary debut. To quote the original Surf-N-Burn vinyl jacket sleeve: "the most profound expression of the human condition ever communicated through art, the passion in man's soul expressed through Surf Guitar and captured on record!"


Over the past two plus decades, wave breakers and beach combers alike have demanded that the genius swell of sound that is Surf-N-Burn become available once again. California's Epitone Records are happy to oblige. A vinyl-only re-issue of Surf-N-Burn will be released on September 24th on standard black vinyl, a Trans. Blue color variant in brick-and-mortar Indie retail stores, and Blue Dream Splash on the band's own webstore. Along with the re-release details, Epitone shared "Grits & Eggs," a previously unreleased song from the Surf-N-Burn sessions yesterday, as well. It's surely a "rippling tide of blown out breeze!" So, Hang 10, "surf's up!" and pre-order your copy of The Blue Stingrays' Surf-N-Burn today. It will see a wide release 9/24 on Epitone/Epitaph Records.